"I swear, it was THAT LONG, but the line broke!!!!"

In one of the instances, not only was I present in the cab but had a look at the speedometer..it was a no-doubter 90 MPH run.Until everyone either retires or dies, dates, engines, and personnel have to maintain silence for obvious reasons. Enginemen share a kinship unlike no other, and some things you will just have to accept it took place.....

Oh, that's a great clip.

This one's a personal favorite of mine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFO3SY9s214

TX, I am sure it did happen.

People are people and for some they only believe it if they saw it... and even then there's a good chance they still will misunderstand what is happening and get it wrong in the moment or in the rememberance. It is human nature... a disturbing and annoying part of it, but human nature nonetheless.

I still want to know just how fast Ross got #759 to go on the DL&W. ;-)

Just like we have to accept that there was this PRR steam loco in a flooded quarry in Pennsylvania.

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof, as my earlier-referenced studies and examinations of "cryptozoology" have proven time and time again. (Ditto UFOs, alien abductions, psychic phenomenon, etc.)

One thing for certain: With today's GPS units/apps and social media, any such run now or in the future will never stay quiet.

True gentlemen know better than to kiss and tell. Some things are best left unspoken.

Ross Rowland

Not sure about 90 mph speeds, but back in the 1970s, Canadian National ran their U-1-f 4-8-2 #6060 well into the 80 mphs quite regularly.
In the mid 1970s she held down a regular schedule of two weekly trips between Toronto Union Station and Niagara Falls, Saturdays and Wednesdays. From notes I have helping out on the trains in 1976, departure was from Toronto at 10:00 with arrival in Hamilton at 10:55, 39 miles. But much of that 39 miles was over the Oakville Sub which was one of the busiest stretches of track on the system. We always got pegged near Burlington at a hot box detector! The regular trains (RDCs) were given 42 minutes (non stop).
Water was taken at Hamilton and departure was at 11:35 with arrival in Niagara Falls at 12:45 - 43 miles. There was slow running leaving Hamilton and approaching Niagara Falls due to yard limits. There may have been a stop at Grimsby but the memory banks are not clear on that? The RDCs had one hour with stops at Grimsby and St. Catherines.
Return, 6060 left Niagara at 17:00, arrived Hamilton at 18:00; departed Hamilton at 18:40, arrived Toronto Union Station at 19:40.
I timed mileposts with speeds around 85 mph quite often. The engine crew were generally the same gentlemen and had steam experience from the 1950s. There was usually, if not always, a master-mechanic on the engine. Engine performance :) depended on which one was riding! They ran a side trip for locals from Niagara Falls to Yager Jct. Providing the master-mechanic stayed in Niagara for lunch, we often got some interesting cab time at speeds well into the 70s near Port Robinson!
At times when the engine was sent to Montréal for excursions, they would run ferry trips from and back to Toronto over the "high speed" passenger line along Lake Ontario/St Lawrence River. I have no firm numbers, but there must certainly have been occasions when she passed over 90 mph. One particular master-mechanic, whose name shall forever be protected, was more than pleased to let the Mountain stretch her legs.
Some great memories there! A beautiful engine in every way!